Indeed, We (God) have created human beings to face hardship (90:4) is a message from the Qur’an implying that human suffering is part of our human construct in this life. No one is immune – rich or poor, powerful or downtrodden, learned or ignorant, healthy, or sick. The question is – why suffering is integral to human life and what purpose does it serve. To reflect on this quest, we will visit several other verses and sayings of the Prophet. Several Qur’anic insights:
- We (God) have created human beings with the best of attributes, but then there are those who race to the bottom instead, except those who have faith and do good…
- Whatever good you do is for yourself and whatever evil you do is against yourself
- Say – all good is from God but all evils (sufferings) are from your own conduct
- When We wish to try people, We give them honor and provision and they say, “God had honored me.” But when We try people by constraining their provisions and blessings, they say, “God had humiliated me.” But how can it be? – it is you who do not honor the orphan, feed the needy, consume other’s property illegally and are deeply in love with the vanities of this world.
- Do you think it is enough to say, “We believe.” and you will not be tested…
- Why is that you do not respond when people cry out – “Our Lord! The leaders of this town are oppressive.”?
- When God told the angels, “I will establish a representative on the earth.”, they said, “are you going to create someone who will cause bloodshed and evils?” God replied, “I know (the purpose) and you do not!”
- (O People) what distracts you (from being mindful of God and good conduct), knowing that you will meet God?
- With hardship there is ease!
Couple of sayings from the Prophet (Hadith):
- “Nothing afflicts a believer of hardship, nor illness, nor anxiety, nor sorrow, nor harm, nor distress, nor even the pricking of a thorn, but that God will expiate his sins by it.”
- When you see an act of injustice, try to prevent it with your hand. If you can’t, then speak against it. Even if you can’t do that, then at least despise such injustice in your heart, though that is the weakest expression of your faith
We are living in a world fraught with injustice and human suffering. We ask that you reflect on these verses and quotations and find your own response to counter the injustice and suffering in our world.
